Folding-machine for collar, cuff, and like blanks.



E. B. PENBY. FOLDING MACHINE FOR COLLAR, CUFF, AND LIKE BLANKS. APPLlOATION FILED JULY 11 1912. 1,G99,59& Patented June 9,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. B. FENBY. FOLDING MACHINE FOB COLLAR, CUFF, AND LIKE BLANKS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1am

Patented June 9, 191% l,99,59 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

} UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR BEVERLEY FENBY, 0F COVENTRY, ENGLAND. I

FQLDlNG MACl-lINE FOR COLLAR, CUFF, AND LIKE ELAN KS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be .it known that. I, EDGAR BEVERLEY F ENBY, subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Coventry, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding-Machines .for Collar, Cuff, and like Blanks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to render possible a more rapid and accurate operation of the blank folding machines for collars, cuffs and the like in which the moving die presses the blank on to a table where the edges are folded and the folded blank subsequently pressed. The speed of operation, as well as the accuracy in such machines, has been seriously impeded because of the difficulty of rapidly removing'the folded blank and properly inserting a fresh one. Difficulties have also been encountered in the adjusting and cleaning of the machine so as to prevent soiling of the blank.

I shall first of all describe the general construction and operation of a folding machine and then proceed to deal with the novel features and improvements according to the present invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:Figure 1, is a side elevation of the machine with the die head raised. Fig. l is a fragmentary view of the operating lever which effects the relative movements of the die-head part-s. Fi 2, is a front elevation of the machine 100 ring in the direction of thearrow X in Fig. 1.- Fig. 3, is a section through the machine showing the main operating parts. Fig. 41-, is a detail view showing the operating .mechanism for the die .head in a different position to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5, is a side elevation of the die head.

The blank A, Fig. 3, to be folded is laid flat on the recessed top of the movable folders c, on the folding table 6, which is guided and supported in the frame a. The folder carriers are heavy cast plates with beveled tops 6, which project above the folders and this arrangement facilitates the operation of the folders and the insertion of the blank A. The folders c, are shown in Fig. 3, moved into their folding position, this movement being effected by centrally pivoted levers r, carrying at their lower ends rollers which engage 56,'to move thefolders at the desired times and in the desired sequence as described in Specification of Letters Patent.

The rotation of the with cams 54, 54, and 56,

Patented June 9, 19.14,

Application filed July 11, 1912. Serial No. 708,845.

a co-pending patent application Serial 709,261.

The flat blank A, is first cupped. by means of dies 6, carried by feet f, fixed in movable. The feet f are formed on die heads it h. v plates g, fixed by bolts '5, in the movable die head parts h it. This die head and its method ofoperation are also described in an other co-pending patent application Serial The die head it it, is composed of two parts held apart by springs w,.(see Fig. 5)

fixed on the ends of a centrally pivoted lever :17, supported on a standard 3 One of the parts 72., of the die head has flanges -t, through which pass bolts u, as a sliding fit. The bolts u, of the die head shown in Fig. 5, this lower part being the front part in Fig. 3. Cast parts 11, are rigidly held by the bolts'u,

are rigid with the lower partgh,

being arranged to rest on shoulders on these,

bolts as shown. A rotatable column a, (of the shape in a transverse plane shown in the plan view Fig. 5) fits between the casing o, and the flange t. In Fig. 5, this column is shown in the position which it occupies when the dles are expanded. \Vhen rotated] in the direction of the arrows on the right I hand end in Fig. 5, in that figure is caused to approach the lower di'ehead so as to collapse the dies.

gages a roller 4, Fig. 2, mounted on an arm 3, at the lower end of the rodor column a, which is supported in a sleeve 2, (seeFigs. l and 2). normal or vertical to the plane in which the folding table, formed of the parts Z) c, andthe presser plate (Z, are arranged. A further movable part of the machinecomprises thehot presser plate (Z, which is resiliently mounted on a pin 7:, The pin it,

carrying a roller Z, engagingon the oamm.

The presser plate (Z, is arranged beneath tion shown in Fig. 1, along the path shown" the upper die head it,

column 2, is eflected by. means of a cam 5, with WlllCh, there en Each column .2, is inclined'but is,

by means of a spring a. rests on an arm pivoted .at p, and

by the dotted line Y on to the guide or I column .2. The dies 6, are then'expanded, that is they are 'in relative positions indi cated in Figs. 3 and 5. The dies 6, press the blank A, on to the presser plate (Z, and thereby pass below the folders 0. During this action, the folders 0 are of course drawn back from the position shown in Fig. 3. Immediately the dies pass below the folders 0, these are moved into the positions shown in Fig. 3, and at this point the cam m, is rotated as shown in F ig. 3, to a short distance before the point 11 comes under the roller Z. In order to prevent the subsequent movement ofthe dies 6, from scraping or disturbing the blank A, pin 20, (see Figs. 1 and 4t) fixed on the casting '0, comes to rest on a spring 22, in the recess 21. In this waythe die parts e, are supported and do not scrapecr rub over the surface of the blank. Before the point 11, passes the roller Z, the column a, is rotated and the dies 6, collapse so that they pass between the folded over edges of the blank A. At this point the die head it h, commences to rise as also the presser plate (Z. From the points 11 to III the folded blank is pressed and the die head it 72., returned to the position shown in Fig. 1, the folder c, being retained during this movement in the position shown in Fig. 3. From the points 111 to IV, the presser plate (Z, falls a short distance and the folders 0, are withdrawn. At the point IV, the plate d, suddenly falls so as to jerk the folded blank off the table whereupon it slides down and receptacle suitably placed to receive it.

The above described features are not broadly novel and the description is. essential to the proper understanding of the present invention. Hitherto such machines have been arranged with the folding table 5,0, arranged in a horizontal plane, the die head 72, 71., has had a straight vertical movement and its operating mechanism has been arranged over thefolding table and blank and the presser plate (Z, has not been jerked as at the point IV. It is of the utmost importance in such machines that the collar blanks are properly laid inplace in the recessed upper portion of the folders 0. Experience has shown that with the blank lying horizontally there is considerable skill required in accurately and rapidly placing the blank properly on the folding table. This objection is to a great extent removed by arranging the table inclined as shown, as the blank is naturally laid with its lower edge resting on the side of the lower recess on the top of the folders 0, that is to say on the left hand edge of the recess or the top of the left hand folder c in Fig. 3 and it then automatically falls into its correct position. Then again by inclining the folding table, the folded blank slips off as soon as the hot pressing plate is moved rapidly downward as from the point IV in the cam m.

Another difficulty which has been removed by the inclined table consists in the openness of the space directly above he blank and the absence of any machine parts at'this point. These machine parts require to be kept well oiled and the oil frequently fell on to the blank thereby soiling it or rendering it useless. When however, the operating parts are caused to assume a position other than directly over the blank, there is no danger of oil smuts dropping on the blank while the entire work is visible and the table accessible for rapid and accurate insertion of the blank.

A further feature resides in the jerking of the inclined presser plate so that the blank is automatically released and slips over the smooth polished and inclined surface of the presser plate.

A further feature of the construction illustrated resides in the rotatable arrangement of the die head h h. This enables themachine to be very low and the parts to be lighter so that if desired the machine may be operated by a treadle. By rotating the die head from the position shown in Fig. 3

or 4:, to that shown in Fig. 1, the dies 6, are

brought into vertical plane where they may be easily replaced, cleaned, adjusted and inspected when required. If the die head were'not so rotated it would require to be raised to a much greater height above the folding tablein order to enable access for removing, replacing and adjusting the dies. Such greater movement of the .die head would involve heai ier and larger machine parts requiring more power to operate and taking up more space' As described earlier the movable die head it .h. is caused to move in the path Y shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and engaging over the inclined standard a. The purpose of this curved path is to carry the operating mechanism and the die head itself to a position on one side of the folding table and not directly above it. In the position shown in Fig. 1, the dies 0, are in a vertical plane being brought thereto by swiveling the die head around its pivotal connection 13.

The movements of the die head are obtained by the following mechanism. The driving shaft .9, has a cam or disk 19, on which there is mounted a roller 18. The roller 18, fits into the groove 17, of an oscillating lever 15, pivoted at 16. Pivotally connected at 14. to one arm of the lever 15, there is a rod 12, having a roller .11, about midway its length. The roller 11, is guided in acurved slot 10, in a casting 9, fixed to the frame of the machine. The upper end of the lever 12, is expanded to form the piv otal bearing for the pin 13, about which the die heads h h, may swing. The, pins 18 are arranged at each side of the die heads as can be seen in Fig. 5, so that the entire mechanism described is duplicated at each side of the machine. The pin 1.3, is fixed on the plate o,carried by the bolts 11. The part i), also carries a pin 7, which is adapted to move in acurved slot 8, formed on the upper end oft-he rigid plate 9. By virtue of the combinedaction of the rod 12, guided the cam' slot l and't-he pin'7, traveling" in the slot 8, the die Head 72 is caused to move in the path Y and to oscillate from the position shown in Fig. 1, to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4. On the straight down motion, the die head is guided by the rotatable standoardsa. f I

In the above description no mention has been made of'the end die parts and end folders as these are more fully dealt with in my 'co-pei' ding application Serial No. 709,261. 5 The mechanism for moving the end folders is shown at 37, the arm 37, beingarranged toRc-qoperate with a sliding part 23, with which the end-folders move.

claim:

1'. In a folding machine in combination, afolding table inclined with respect to a horizontal" plane, guiding means normal to the plane of said table, a die and die head mgvable on said guiding means on to said table, and means for moving said die and die head on the said guiding means normal and away from the table and then trans V6.1. zely with respect to said normal and free from said guiding means.

2. In a folding madhine, in combination, a folding table, inclined with respect to a h rizontal plane, gz uiding means normal to the plane of said able and located at the sides thereof, a die and die head movable on said guiding meaiias on to said tableand meansfor moving said die and die he; (l on ,the said. guiding means nor: l to the table and then transversely with respect to said normal and free from said guiding means. 40,; 3. In a folding machine in combination a folding table in ined with respect to horizontal plane, a and die head movable in path normal to said table and then trans- .versely in respect said normal, a guide 4 arranged normal to said table to coiiperate with said die during its movement normal to the table and resilient means located in said guide for supporting said die head when it approaches its lowest position near the table.

l. In combination in a machine for folding collar and like blanks, a machine frame,

folding table parts guided in said frame to move in paths inclined to the horizontal,

' standards supported at the sides of said table and normal thereto, a movable die head engaging over said, standards to codperate ith said foldingltable parts, and means for moving said die head over said standards and 50 then clear and to one side of said standards.

5. Imcombination in a machine for folding collar and like blanks, a machine frame, folding table parts guided in said frame to move in paths inclined to the horizontal,

55 standards supported at the sides of said table oscillating lever, a

an as:

and normal thereto, a movable die head en gaging over said standards-to coiiperate with said folding table parts, means for moving said die head over saidstandards and clear and to one side of thesame, and means for swiveling said die headafter it passes clear of said standards and during its passage to one side thereof.

6. In a folding machine in combination, a folding table inclined in respect to the horizontal, a movable die and die head and means for moving said die and die head in a path starting from said table and noiini-cl to same and-then transversely in respect to said normal.

7. In a folding machine in combination, a folding table inclined in respect to the horizontal, a movable die and die head, means for moving said die and die head in a path starting fron said table and normal to same and then transversely in respect of said n 1- mal, a prcsser plate set to the some inclination as the folding table and located thereunder and means for moving said inclined presser plate normal to and toward said folding table and means for rapidly jerking said inclined presser plate away from and in a path normal to said folding table.

8. In a folding machine in combination, an inclined. folding'table, a die and die head cooperating with said table, and means for moving said die and die head comprising an oscillating lever, a rod operated by said oscillating lever and connected tosaid die head, a guide roller on said rod and a curved guide in which said roller moves.

ding machine in combination, ned folding tab a die and die head coiiperating 'Wltll said and means for moving said die and tie l lever, a roller midwa guide in which said. roller wows, a p support on the end of said rod and rece said die head and means for swing die head about said support,

10. ln'a folding machine in coinl'iination, an inclined folding table, die and die l: cooperating with l tiile, inc ing said die a .d. o

supper said die l head. a l so u on said ead. a pin (-1 and. 1,1 nand a fixed curved guide recei 'ing pin.

11. In coii'diinatimi in a folding machine, a frame, folding me 1 nciined to a horizontal plane, carri lei efor guided in s 7 frame, operating co-acting with t carriers, a resiliei .l presser pl .c inclined to a ho plane located he- C 1H1 nat 111% It 1301- tion for raising said presser plate to a posi- In testimony whereof I have signed my a tionnear said folders during the operation name to this speeification in the presence of 10 thereof, a} further porticnffcfi mogring said two subscribing witnesses.

resser p ate agalnst sai 0 ers or press- 4 5 iiig thereon and a further portion for sud- EDGAR BEVERLEYFENBY' denly moving said presser plate away'from Witnesses:

said folding members, substantially as de- ALBERT HAISTEAD, Jr.,

scribed. ERNEST HARKER. 

